Chameleon behavior

[ataraxia]

Within my zoo i notice animals preferring a care giver. Like dogs or cats many other animals do the same thing. I have never noticed it with reptiles until we started keeping chameleons.

We have some chameleons that prefer one of us to feed, water or handle them. Your probably thinking "This man has lost his gourd". No, im serious. This is something to think about when you have that dark chameleon, finicky eater, shy chameleon. They may be the complete opposite in anothers care.

We have some that will readily feed from one and will never from another.
Some that will allow handling from one and not the other.
Some that will drink from ones manual spraying and not from another.
Even though a few have decided a favorite keeper. Many within the group dont care either way. Something to think about if you have a significant other that is interested in the same hobby as you and you have that special cham.

 

[Kmw]

I think our veiled likes my boyfriend better than me. Of course, i'll never admit that to him.

 

[carol5208]

I am really the only one that every takes care of mine. I am going away in July for 9 days and it will be up to the rest of my family to take care of them, clean out the feeder containers etc. It is worrying me already!!! I totally believe what you say. Why can't they liike or feel comfortable with one person over another?

 

[Hoj]

At my house they demonstrate this so much.. If i am the only one in the room they are aware but relaxed. Whenever I bring in a new person to see them they all go side ways or hid as best they can. And with my GF it is kind of a helf way thing, as they sort of know her.
Except for Gordy who hates all people and Gizmo who thinks all people are a free ride to funtyme

 

[pssh]

My chameleons have always been able to recognize different people and even prefer certain people over others. I thought most people knew that they did/could

 

[DanSB]

My chameleons have always been able to recognize different people and even prefer certain people over others. I thought most people knew that they did/could

I think actually admitting Chameleons have preferences forces us to consider a level of cognition that is greater than expected.

It would be interesting to know if this is more prevalent among CB than WC and if it has something to do with visual imprints from early feeding and care or if it goes deeper than that.

I can imagine a chameleon showing preference towards people whose visual cues are similar to those who cared for them when they were babies or possibly in the case of WC were shy of those who display cues similar to their original captor.

It would be interesting to know.

 

[reptoman]

Punkin will take my finger off if I get too close but my wife can hold feeders a couple inches away and she does not react the same as with me. Could be the vibe I am putting out there since she has almost gotten me a couple of times. I'm scared

 

[pssh]

I think actually admitting Chameleons have preferences forces us to consider a level of cognition that is greater than expected.

It would be interesting to know if this is more prevalent among CB than WC and if it has something to do with visual imprints from early feeding and care or if it goes deeper than that.

I can imagine a chameleon showing preference towards people whose visual cues are similar to those who cared for them when they were babies or possibly in the case of WC were shy of those who display cues similar to their original captor.

It would be interesting to know.

I understand that. I still, unlike some others on the board, feel that they are just lizards and are incapable of certain things. I do think that they have a certain level of cognition though. They do seem to prefer things, people, etc. I don't know what else to say because there was a huge debate last time about emotions and what not in chameleons. Maybe it's just my human perception of them and I'm wrong. I think it's definitely based on survival though, and nothing more.

It would be interesting to know.

 

[imcurt]

I totaly agree! I have a couple female that go to the door when I enter my chameleon room. But do not if anybody comes in there with me.I was showing my friend how big Jethro is last weekend,I went to hand him over, Jethro was very reluctant to let him handle him. and seemed restless untill he handed him back.I am sure they have prefrences on who feeds& handles them.much like our dogs.

 

[DavidBuchan]

A lot of my lizards can/could recognise different people. My Savs and even water dragon certainly knew who was feeding them. Mostly they aren't too bothered as long as they get what they want, but Rinty certainly doesn't like to eat when there are people he doesn't know around. Today my mum visited for the first time since Christmas and Rinty was being a branch the whole time he could see her. Jasmine came to the door and ate silkworms from her hand though - she was a little unsure at first but food is more important to her

 

[DanSB]

I understand that. I still, unlike some others on the board, feel that they are just lizards and are incapable of certain things. I do think that they have a certain level of cognition though. They do seem to prefer things, people, etc. I don't know what else to say because there was a huge debate last time about emotions and what not in chameleons. Maybe it's just my human perception of them and I'm wrong. I think it's definitely based on survival though, and nothing more.

It would be interesting to know.

I don't think we have to take this into the emotion debate again (although I really do enjoy that one ).

Unlike most hard scientists I am fine with anecdotal proofs, especially since I'm not trying to publish a paper just improve my husbandry.

Has anyone noticed a gender preference? Parrots generally prefer a person of the opposite sex for example.

Is there a preference for the person who fed them first or most often?

Is there a preference towards a person who talks to them more?

High or low voice preference?

Hair length preference?

Perfume, deodorant, or soap smell preference?

Do different Chameleons prefer different people?

And can they distinguish between two similar looking people?


Just a few questions I think could help towards finding out why we all observe that Chameleons seem to have a preference for certain people!

 

[ataraxia]

I don't think we have to take this into the emotion debate again (although I really do enjoy that one ).

Unlike most hard scientists I am fine with anecdotal proofs, especially since I'm not trying to publish a paper just improve my husbandry.

Has anyone noticed a gender preference? Parrots generally prefer a person of the opposite sex for example. In my case it is only me and the wife that cares for these animals.
I honestly dont think this is the case though.

Is there a preference for the person who fed them first or most often? I can tell you that this is mixed. I breed/rasied many animals. One animal in particular that i still have is a prime example of this. I did not breed this female eclectus but i got her very young. i cared for this bird for years before i me and the wife got together. This bird is now her bird only. I can not touch her anymore as she has bonded with my wife. Raising eclectus in general though. Females tend to like females and males like a males care. It is wild.

Is there a preference towards a person who talks to them more? This is mixed and depends on the animal.

High or low voice preference? This is mixed and depends on the animal.

Hair length preference? Dont know.

Perfume, deodorant, or soap smell preference? I think some animals can smell the difference between a male and female.

Do different Chameleons prefer different people? 100% yes. I have no doubt in my mind it makes no difference of care from a young age. I think the visuals the animal sees whether it is posture, demeanor, actions, scent, size, colors, etc dictates the level of being comfortable. Once that is established. If it was negative it takes time to reverse.

And can they distinguish between two similar looking people? This would be interesting to see. I would think so though.


Just a few questions I think could help towards finding out why we all observe that Chameleons seem to have a preference for certain people!

I personally dont believe chameleons are gender specific. I have received chameleons where the past owner that was male said they are vicious, will not hand feed, will not take certain feeders. They will be the complete opposite for me. i have also shipped out animals and them do the same thing to the new keeper or it will be completely opposite.

This is something to think about when you have that dark chameleon, finicky eater, shy chameleon. They may be the complete opposite in anothers care.

 

[lysinlight87]

Neelix doesn't like people with hairy arms, I guess it tickles lol
But I do think they've got more going on upstairs than some people think. With the colour changing and the hissing it's pretty easy to tell for him to tell me where to go when he's not in the mood.

 

[lysinlight87]

Although when it comes to me and my pets, it's a classic case of anthropomorphism, I just can't help it. I guess it's a way to bond with your animal.

 

[pssh]

I don't think we have to take this into the emotion debate again (although I really do enjoy that one ).

Unlike most hard scientists I am fine with anecdotal proofs, especially since I'm not trying to publish a paper just improve my husbandry.

Has anyone noticed a gender preference? Parrots generally prefer a person of the opposite sex for example.
Not that I'v ever personally noticed. My Sambava male seemed to like females better but I can't really prove it either way. He seemed more likely to hop on a passing female than a passing male, but I only really had my boyfriend to test it with, so he may just have not liked him much. My boyfriend's chameleons also preferred him and his brother over me, but that might just have been because the chameleons were more familiar with them.

Is there a preference for the person who fed them first or most often?
Most often seems to be the case for me.

Is there a preference towards a person who talks to them more?
I wouldn't know. I don't talk to them

High or low voice preference?
No idea.

Hair length preference?
I've had all sorts of hair lengths and it didn't seem to make a difference. Color maybe. (Especially considering they get all upset when certain colored shirts are worn. I've also had fingernail polish color affect the animal. Sometimes they get aggressive, sometimes they try to eat it. Who knows?!

Perfume, deodorant, or soap smell preference?
No idea.

Do different Chameleons prefer different people?
It would seem to be the case!

And can they distinguish between two similar looking people?
My boyfriend and his brother look really, really similar and his chameleons still preferred him over his brother. That could be the whole feeding thing though.


Just a few questions I think could help towards finding out why we all observe that Chameleons seem to have a preference for certain people!

....................

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Up until recently, I pretty much thought they were "just lizards".. Very interesting ones compared to others, but none the less just lizards..
A few months back I aquired a melleri(from Ataraxia ironically), Hated me and anyone else that came across its path. The more time i spent with him, and in the came room caring for the others i have gained its trust(i think). I no longer get a "negative" reaction from him when i enter the room, but my girlfriend who is in and out of the room from time to time caring for everyone when i cant, still gets the same reaction from day one. Gaping, lobe flapping, flaring up the whole show. While i can hand feed, water, trim plants, etc without any issue whatsoever...
So I think there is a preference to some point, and definitely some"thinking" going on up there..
But who knows.. just my. 02

 

[Swayne8998]

Oh definitely Mine loves me and ONLY me... He comes to the front of the cage and watches me as I clean out his crap in the mornings... LOL... He also only lets me hold him.